Pipe coupling



Jam i, 1924 I 1,479,650

J. cLARK PIPE COUPLING Filed April 15. 1921 Patented Jan. l, 1924.

unirse @armes PATENT' OFFICE.

JAMES CLARK,l OF BRADFORD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T S. R. DRESSER MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, 0F BRADFORD, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 0F PENN- SYLVANIA.

Application led April 13, 1921.

T0 all whom it m ay con cern.'

Be it known that l, JAMES CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bradford, in the county of McKean and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pipe Couplings; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine.

My invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described, reference vbeing had to the accompanying drawing which illustrates one embodiment of the invention selected by me for purposes ot' illustration,

` and the said invention is fully disclosed in the lfollowing description and claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a coupling of the type known as the Dresser pipe coupling for etl'ecting a tight joint between the meeting ends ot what are known as plain end pipe sections, that is to say, pipe sections the meeting ends of which are not provided with screw threads, flanges or other integral means for uniting the saine. The coupling herein described is designed particularly for connecting the ends of pipes of large diameter with thick walls as for example, pipes having an iiitegral diameter of from three to` eight feet, or even larger, and from one half inch to two inches in thickness, tor use in pipe lines or otherwise, It is important iu couplings of this kind? that the individual pipe sections iiiay be permitted to have a certain amount of movement with respect to the couplings to accommodate the contraction and expansion of the pipes while preserv ing a tight joint at all times at every point of connection. These pipe sections are ordinarily manufactured in comparatively lshort lengths, about twenty feet, (although they may be ot other lengths) so that a very large number ot' these joints occur in every mile ot' the pipe line and any leakage in the joints would result in loss of large quantities of fluid which, in the case of a valuable fluid such as oil or natural gas results in great loss of valuable material as well as danger of explosion or tire, while in the case of water the leakage would result in inetliciency of the pipe line and injury thereto by the undermining of the soil PIPE COUPLING.

Serial No. 461,036.

on which it rests. In manufacturing pipes of these large diameters, such as pipes from three to eightl feet in diameter, for example, the pipe sections are forme-d by bending a sheet of metal into the form otl a cylinder and welding the meeting edges. The sheet metal will ordinarily have a thickness between a half inch and two inches, and there will necessarily be a certain amount oiu variation in the interior' and exterior surt'aces of the pipe from true circles, which must be taken into account in constructing pipe couplings toA be applied indiscriminately to the pipe sections as they are assembled in the. iield oi other location and united in a pipe line. While the coupling which forms the subject mattei' .of this invention'has been designed particularly to meet this situation and the particular coupling illustrated has been especially designed to connect pipe sections having an internal diameter of eight feet, I wish it to be understood that the features of the invention herein set forth may be applied to couplings t'or pipesof lesser diameters, and lesser thickness than the examples mentioned.

Referring to the. accompanying drawings,

Fig. l is an elevation of one embodiment of my improvedpipe coupling.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view through one side of the coupling and the adjacent pipe sections.

My improved pipe coupling comprises the following members, to wit a middle ring adapted to enclose the meeting ends of two adjacent pipe sections having plain or un threaded ends, said middle ring being provided with portions of larger diameter .at each end to tormpacking recesses and bef ing preferably providedat itsinterior with a centering stop for centering the middle ring over the joint, annular packing'f located in the packing recesses and adaptedto be compressed against the' middle ring and the exterior of the pipe sections, a pair of clamping rings each having an annular iange 'portion provided with bolt apertures and a follower or sleeve portion adapted to extend into one of the packing recesses, and the connecting bolts extending from'one clamping ring to the other for drawing the rings toward each other and compressing the pack` ings.

lin tlie manufacture of the iniolrlle ring in sucli'large diameter it is preferably lorrnecl of separate parts which are formell separately and united preferably by Welding.

lllie middle ring comprises essentially the following members. 1 represents a niain or central sleeve which is preferably formeel by bending a sheet oil metal (steel or Wrought iron) into cylindrical orin an@ l@ ytlie sleeve l is provitleol centrally of its lenotb with a centering stop or stops 2 preferably formeel by :applying to tlie interior ol tlie sleeve an annular ring' or separate curved segmental pieces, in either case baving 'the curved 'lace adjacent to tlie inner surface oit tbe sleeve l bevelecl c directions to forni recesse cross section. ln tliese recesses 'v filets, inclicatecl at -l, are inserted vveicieol., preferably electrically, se as unite tbe error of tliesleeve, or it separate segmental stops,

l or fennel c case tlie centering; stt

venient, eitlier acts engage tlie meeting ends tbe se sections and prevent tliein from betinmn serteil too :lar Within tlie sleeve, tliis centering stop enables the orlr conf" t e pipe line to so ce 'ene sleeve ends or pipe sections entend equally lie sleeve is an en@ sle olicatetl fr, liaying its internal substantiaily tlie saine as 'tbe rlieincter or 'the sleeve L i' lliese en? overlap portions lie sleeve l c beyond the encls or ie sleeve l nular panning recesses as lne sleeves are united to tlie sleeve l and ere es preferably so united. as to beconw integral parts oi? tbe iniclclle ringL` l prendi iinite lllthe sleeves to tlie sleeve l in tbe rn annen Annuler filets, indicated 5 5, trie ngnlar in cross sect'on, placed against the ends of tlie sleeve l ancl tbe adjacent interior faces oi tlie sleeves are preferably by electrical Welding, to tbe sleeves l and l, tliereby uniting tlie sleeves l ancl l, as an integral structure. llie onteraces oil tbe filets 5 are inclined to the axis of tlie sleeves anol `forni part oi3 tlie inner entls of tbe packingl recesses and extenfl in an inclined direction outwardly :from the pipe sections toward tlie outer encls eie the niiclrlle ring so that when tlie paclrings are compressed, as hereinafter described, tbe inclined` laces or tliese filets at tbe inner ends of tbe packing recesses, produce a compression of tlie packings by a Weolging action, between the middle ring ancl tlie exterior of Welding tlie enfls together. The interior o L intervals according to lne sise or t is in fact e rin terasse cross section inolicatecl in the drawings, that is to say, they have cylindrical' inner 'laces adapted to engage tlie pipe, sliort cylindrical outer laces 'to engage tbe inner laces of tbe enel sleeves l of 'the inicltlle ring,pan annular beveled portion for engaging tlie ifilet 5, and lateral :laces perpendicular to the axis ci tlie ring, so that -tliese packing rines init tlie packing recesses formed Within tne nfl sleeves l and filets 5, tlie enel ci tbe entrai sleeve l, anti the acliacent exterior irrita e ci the enclosed pipe section.

ln orrler to compress tlie pacliings l eniploy a neir or clamping; rings, each ot' which preferably comprises an annular :Flange por- 'in Y disposed perpendicularly to tbe axis oi lie ring and is preferably 'formeel by bending a strip or bar or? inet-al erlgeivise into circular form anfl welding the entls together, or tbe said lla ige portion 'l' beproviclecl with plural'fy bolt lioles clistribiiteol around the ring *at suitable pling and tbe pressure ivliicli prepared to sustain within tlie p1` llacli cla f r also comprises @.-ical rollen ."section9 inrlicvtefi n" nies lige section l tlie clamping ring are L -ted preferably by a i'ilet l() triangular in cross section, which lececl around 'tlie 'follower portion 9 and Q inst tlie adjacent inner 'face oli 'lie llange and welded to both parts, preferably by electrical welding, so to unite tlieni in itegral structure. llt will be understood in making tbe parts of tbe coupling of suc i large diameters, especially, it is necessary to llave the clearance between the adjacent parts sufficient to accommodate variations :from a true circle. which will be found in bent anrl Welded articles, especially gin tliose of suoli linge dimensions. For tbe purpose of insuringl the )roper compression of the packing;` rings 6 within the packing' re cesses ancl preventing the exuding of portions el the packing: rings into tbe clearance between the follower 9 and the exterior of the pipe and interior of tlie-end'sleeve a, l pro viele split rings vvliicli are interposed between incasso the ends of the follower portion 9 and the packing and at the inner end of the packing recess, which rings can be made of lighter stock and will preferably be split in an inclined direction with respect to the radiusof the ring, so that these rings can be readily placed in position and made to lit the pipe section or the interior of the packing recess much more closely than the other parts of the coupling and prevent the exuding of the packing rings, thus retaining the entire body thereof within the packing recess and subject to the compression. ln the present instance l have shown one of these split rings, indicated at 11, at the inner end of each packing recess, where it abuts the inner end of the sleeve 1 within the circle of the lilet 5, a similar ring 12 being located. against the outer face of the packing ring, therings 11 and 12 having an internal diameter substantially the same as the external diameter of the pipe. 13 represents another split ring which has its external diameter substantially identical with the internal diameter of the end sleeves 4 and its inner diameter slightly greater than the external diameter of the split ring 12, so that when placed in position it will tend to fit against the inner face of the end sleeve 4 and these rings 13 are placed against the exterior perpendicular face of the packing rings 6. There are therefore provided the tivo split rings 12 and 13 between the packing 8 and the. inner face of the follower section 9 of the clamping ring, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3, so that any space between the rings 12 and 13 is closed| by the follower portion 9.

For the purpose of centering the middle ring around the meeting pipe ends and facilitating the insertion of the packing and clamping rings, and the coupling together of the parts, l prefer to provide wedges 1li, indicated in the drawings, which are inserted between the end portions of the central sleeve 1 and the exterior of the pipe sections at intervals around the latter so. as to provide substantially uniform clearance between the sleeve 1 and the pipe sections all the way around. These wedges may be of any desired width and any desired number of the same may be employed.

ln assembling and applying the coupling the meeting ends of the pipe sections, indicated at 15-15, have applied to each of them aclamping ring and a packing ring before the ends of the pipe are brought together. The middle ring is thenplaced in engagement with one pipe section so as to bring the end of the pipe adjacent to the centering stop` 2, and the other pipe section is then inserted in the other end of the middle ring and brought into juXta-position to the centering stop 2. The Wedges lll are then inserted between the middle ring and the pipe sections so as to provide substantially uniform clearance all vthe Way around, and the inner split rings 11 are placed around the pipe sections at the inner end of the packing recess to cover the clearance space and close the inner ends of the packing recess. The packing rings 6 are then moved endwise along the pipe sections into the packing recesses 'and the exterior split rings 12 and 13 are fitted against the outside faces of the packings after which the clamping rings are brought up into' position so that the inner ends of the follower portions 9`thereof will engage the exterior split rings 12'and 13. The bolts, indicated at 16, are then passed through the bolt holes 8 ofthe clamping rings and the nuts 17 are applied thereto and drawn up, thereby forcing the follower portions of the clamping rings against the split rings 12 and 13 and compressing the packings 6 in the packing recesses and forcing the packings against the exterior of the pipe sections and the interior of the end sleeves 4. As this compression takes place the inclined faces of `the filets 5 which conneet the central sleeve 1 of the middle ring with the end sleeves d will assist in Wedging the packing and in the compression of the saine. l

This coupling will produce an absolutely tight jointat all times and at the same time will permit the pipe sections to move endvvise With respect to the coupling and the adjacent pipe section, as may be necessary to accommodate the expansion and contraction of the pipe sections duet-o variations in temperature. lt will also be noted that suflicient clearance is provided between the inner surface of the middle ring and the ends of the pipe sections to permit the pipes to be connected in slightly angular relation Where this may be desirable in laying a line over a hill or through a valley., or in a more or less curved direction. which may be necessitated by the general course of the pipe line. ln laying a. line of pipe the changes in direction Within the length of adjacent pipe sections is comparatively slight and is amply taken care of bythe clearance provided and indicated herein.

While, as before stated the coupling herein shown and described has been designed especially for use in connection with pipes having an internal diameter of eight feet, it is to be understood that the inventive features herein disclosed and covered by the following claims may be employed in couplings for pipes of any desired diameter as may be found advantageous or desirable.

While I have described the rings 11, 12 and 13 which confine the packings as split rings, it is to be understood 'that l might use solid rings which are not split and which could be put on the ends of the pipes on opposite sides of the packing previous to the assembly of the parts of the coupling. l

lil@

prefer, however, to make these rings in the form of split rings and to cut them 'angularly with respect to a radius thereof, as before described, so that the ends will overlap as it somewhat facilitates the placing of these rings in position and also enables me to fit them closer to the respective surfaces of the pipe or sleeve where they are needed to prevent theescape of the packing from the packing recess.

The filets referred to herein, and which are ordinarily of triangular cross section as shown in the drawings, are preferably formed by fusing of the welding rod i-n electrical welding apparatus, in a well known manner, but they may be formed and welded or otherwise secured in position in other ways if desired and found convenient.

While li have described' the iange members of the clamping rings as being preferably formed by bending a. bar edgewise into ring form and welding the ends together, it is to be understood that it may be so bent and the ends connect/ed by an over-lapping bridge piece riveted in opposite sides of the joint, on the outer face of the flange, or it may be made by bending separate pieces edgewise into semi-circular or segmental form and connecting their meeting ends by such bridge pieces riveted thereto, if desired.

What i claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The herein described coupling for thick wall and high pressure plain end pipes, formed of wrought metal and ,comprising among its members a middle ring consisting of a central sleeve, separately formed end sleeves surrounding the end portions of the central sleeve and projecting beyond the same to form packing recesses, a filet engaging each end of the central sleeve and the inner face of the adjacent end sleeve and provided with a conical packing engaging face extending from the adjacent end of the central sleeve outwardly, and forming the inner end of the adjacent packing recess, packings in said packing recess having annular beveled portions to engage the conical face of said filets, clamping rings comprising annular flanges provided with bolt holes and annular portions adapted to n age the packing rings and clamping o ts. v

2. rlthe herein described coupling for plain end pipes, formed of wrought metal and comprising among its `members a middle ring consisting of a central sleeve of greater internal diameter than the external diameter of the pipes to be connected and separately formed end sleeves surrounding and overlapping the end portions of the central sleeve said end sleeves being united to the central sleeve and projecting beyond the same to formpacking recesses, the central sleeve being provided on its inner face with geraete a centering stop consisting of a bar of a length equal to the internal circumference of the central sleeve and-provided with op'- positely beveled portions said bar being bent into circular form with the beveled portions on the exterior circumference thereof and filets engaging said beveled portions, and lying between them and the inner face of the sleeve and welded to the centering stop and sleeve, clamping rings comprising annular flanges'provided with bolt apertures, and follower portions adapt.- ed to extend into the packing recesses, annular packings, and clamping bolts.

3. rlhe herein described coupling for plain end pipes, comprisingamong its members a middle ring having end portions of enlarged diameter to form packing recesses, longitudinally disposed wedges having a width but a small fraction of the periphery of the pipe section adapted to be inserted at separated points around the pipe between the pipe ends and the central portion of the middle ring, packings in said recesses, clamping rings having annular flanges provided with bolt holes, and follower portions adapted to extend into said recesses, and clamping bolts.

4. 'llhe herein described coupling for plain end pipes, comprising among its members, a middle ring having the end portions of enlarged diameter to form packing recesses, and provided with abutting surfaces located at the inner ends of said packing recess and at the opposite ends of the central portion of the middle ring, a flat packing retaining ring having its external diameter less than the internal diameter of the enlarged end portions of the middle ring and disposed perpendicularly to the axis of the middle ring, located at the innerl end of each packing recess and engaging one of said abutting surfaces for substantially closing the annular space between the cen-4 tral portion of the middle ring and the ad jacent pipe end without engaging the outer wall of the packing recess, an annular pack ingIring in each of said recesses, clamping rings provided with annular fiange portions having bolt holes therein, and annular follower portions, and clamping bolts,

5. rll"he herein described coupling for plain end pipes comprising among its members a middle ring having endportions of en` larged diameter to form packing recesses, a packing ring in each of said recesses, packing retaining rings of did'erent diameters engaging the exterior face of each packing ring, one of said retaining rings lying close to the pipe section, and the other lying close to the inner face of the enlarged portions of the middle ring, and in-the same plane as the first mentioned retaining ring. clamping rings provided with annular ianged portions having bolt holes therein,

lll() Mtl and follower portions for engaging said retaining rings, and clamping bolts.

6. The herein described coupling for plain end pipes, comprising among its members a middle ring havin end portions of enlarged diameter to orm packing recesses, a packing retaining ring at the inner end of each of said packing recesses for closing the clearance between the middle ring and the pipe section, a packing ring in each of said recesses, packing retaining rings of diderent diameters engaging theA exterior face of each packing rlng, one of said retaining rings lying close to the pipe section, and the other lying close to the inner face of the enlarged portions of the middle ring, clamping rings provided with annular flanged portions having bolt holes therein, and follower portions for engaging said exterior packing retaining rings, and clampingbolts.

7. The herein Idescribed coupling for plain end pipes formed of wrought metal and comprising among its members a middle ring consisting of a central sleeve, separately formed end sleeves surrounding the end portions of the central sleeve and projecting beyond the same to -form packing recesses, filets triangular in cross section engagin the ends of said central sleeve and the a jacent inner faces of the end sleeves, and welded thereto, and being provided with a conical packing engaging face, a packing retaining ring having its external diameter less than the diameter of the packing recess at the inner end of each of said packing recesses adapted to engage the end of the central sleeve and close the clearance between said sleeve and the adjacent pipe end, an annular packing rin in each packing recess, clamping rmgs aving flanged rtions provided with bolt holes, and folower portions for compressing the packing, and clamping bolts.

8. The herein described cogupling for plain end pipes formed of wrought metal and comprising among its members a middle ring consisting of a central sleeve,`sep arately formed end sleeves surrounding the end portions of the central sleeve and projecting beyond the'same to form packing recesses, lets triangular in cross section engaging the ends of said central sleeve and the adjacent inner faces of the end sleeves, and welded thereto, a packing retaining ring at the inner end of each of said packing recesses adapted to engage the end of the central sleeve and close the clearance between said sleeve and the adjacent pipe end, an annular packing ring in each packing recess, packing retaining rings of different diameters lying in the same transverse plane -and engaging the outer face 01 each acking within the packing recess, one o said rlngs lying close to t e pipe section, and

round the meeting ends of the metal and y same'to form packing recesses, annular filets triangular in cross section engaging the ends of the central sleeve and adjacent inner faces to the end sleeves, and welded thereto, a split ring at the inner end of each of said packing recesses engaging the inner end of the central sleeve, a packing ring in each of said recesses havingan annular beveled face to engage said ilet, pack- .ing retaining rings of different diameters lying in the same plane and engaging the outer faces of said` packing rings, wlthin said packing recesses, clamping rings comrising flanged ortions provided with bolt oles, cylindrica follower portions, and annular filets engaging the exterior face of the follower portions, and the adjacent face of the flanged portion of eachv clamping ring, and welded thereto, and clamping bolts for connecting the flanged portions-'of said clamping rings.

10. In a coupling for plain end pipes, a

wrought metal middle ring provided with packing recesses at its opposite ends, a separately-formed centering stop consisting of a wrought metal bar having oppositely beveled portions adjacent to one edge, sai

bar being bent into'a circle to fit the lnterior of the middle ring with the beveled portions adjacent to the inner face of said middle ring, fillets engagin said beveled portions and lying between tidem and the inner face of the middle ring and welded to the centering stop and middle ring, packings in said packin recesses, clamp-ing rings and clamping bo ts. Y

11. The herein described couplin for thick wall and high pressure plain en pipe, formed of wrought metal, and comprising among its members, a middle ring consisting of a central sleeve having an internal diameter suiiicient to pass over and suripes to be connected, and two separatel ormed end sleeves having their inner iameters substantially equal to the exterior diameter of the central sleeve, 'surrounding and overlappin the opposite end portions of the centra sleeve, and welded t central sleeve and forming annular packing recesses terminating at their inner ends at the respective ends of said central sleeve,

ereto, said end sleeves extending beyond the ends of the- Levens@ annular pecking rings in said recesses, recessesand compress the packings toward v clamping rings provided with flanges havthe opposite ends of the central ring and 3l@ ing` bolt apertures therein and follower porbetween the pipe sections and the inner tions adapted to surround the adjacent pipe faces of the end rings, and bolts for con- 5 sections and having their external diameters nectingl said flanges. slightly less than the internal diameters of lin testimony whereof ll affix my signathe end sleeves, so that said follower p0rture. tions een extend into said annuler packing JAMES CLARK. 

